• 825 and counting …

    Finished Spare Change by Robert B. Parker. It’s the latest in his Sunny Randall series about a Boston private investigator.

    This time, Sunny is helping her father, Phil, investigate the reappearance of the Spare Change killer, a serial killer who leaves three coins beside all his victims. Phil, a former police officer, was in charge of the investigation the first time around. Now, Spare Change is back, and Phil needs Sunny’s help to catch him. Sunny and the rest of the task force identify a likely suspect, and Sunny starts playing a game of cat and mouse with him … by offering herself up as bait.

    I always enjoy Parker’s books, especially his dialogue-heavy style. But I have to admit I’m tired of characters going over the same ground from book to book. Two of Parker’s characters, Sunny and Jesse Stone, just can’t let go of their exes. A big part of every book featuring either one of them has them trying to come to terms with their feelings.

    In Spare Change, Sunny’s ex-hubbie decides to leave his current wife and try to make things work with Sunny. (Conveniently, the exes can’t let go of the main characters either). I really don’t care if they get back together or not. I just want somebody to make a lasting decision about it one way or another … and never talk about it again! (This also bothers me when it comes to Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. Seriously, Steph, just pick one of the guys already.) 

    As much as it pains me, I have to give this one a thumbs down.

    Up next: Revenge of the Homecoming Queen by Stephanie Hale.

    What about you? What have you read lately? Inquiring minds want to know …

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    4 stars, baby!

    3 Comments

    hot_mama.jpgI just saw the Romantic Times review of Hot Mama … and the reviewer gave it four stars! Here’s what she had to say:

    It’s back to Bigtime, N.Y., for more sexy, sizzling and offbeat adventures with those zany superheroes. Fiona’s first-person viewpoint reveals a tough, cranky yet caring heroine whose literal flash temper can raise hell. Estep’s twist on the world of superheroes is kick-ass fun!

    Summary: Living a dual life is never easy, but for superhero Fiera (aka fashion designer Fiona Fine), it is especially tough not being able to acknowledge the tragic loss of her superhero fiance Travis. Just as Fiona decides to start dating again, sexy and wealthy playboy Johnny Bulluci hits town, elevating her hormones. Meanwhile two new uber-villains have arrived to wreck havoc, and Fiona runs across the new Johnny Angel, a biker who can either be villainous or helpful. The previous Johnny Angel was murdered and this new incarnation vows vengeance. Good thing Fiona likes things hot, because it’s starting to sizzle! (BERKLEY, Nov., 384 pp., $14,00) HOT

    — Jill M. Smith

    Wow! Thanks for the great review, Jill!

    And if that isn’t cool enough, there’s also a small feature story on me in the magazine. I haven’t seen it yet, but it’s listed in the table of contests. Needless to say, I’m having a great day! :ww:

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    One hot review …

    5 Comments

    hot_mama.jpgThe first review for Hot Mama is in, and it’s a doozy! This is from the esteemed folks at Publishers Weekly:

    The superhero du jour in this smokin’ sequel to Estep’s debut (2006’s Karma Girl) is flame-wielding Fiera, a member of the souped-up supergroup the Fearless Five, based in Bigtime, N.Y. As Fiona Fine, Fiera has a day job as a successful fashion designer, and in either incarnation, she is still grieving over the loss of her murdered fiance Travis (aka “Tornado”). There’s romantic promise in the form of hunky Johnny Bulluci, the brother of a rival designer, but soon another “Johnny” surfaces, a crime fighter who’s assumed the identity of the previously murdered crimefighter Johnny Angel and is bent on avenging Johnny’s murder by villain Intelligal. Fiera & Co. are made plenty busy by Intelligal’s plans for taking over Bigtime via Intelligal’s infernal Vamp Machine, which supersizes villain Siren’s hypnotic, people-controlling voice. Feverishly clever plotting fuels Estep’s over-the-top romance.

    All the “Johnny”s are a little confusing, but still, the reviewer gave me two sentences’ worth of like again. Smokin’! Feverishly clever! Over-the-top!

    Happy dance time! :ww: